Cutting Pallet Shipping Charges

To know how to get the best freight charge for your pallets, it is important to understand the factors and vairables that impact your total shipping charge calculations.

The main factors are:

Pallet Location

Pallet Specifications

Pallet Order Quantity

Shipping Service Level

Delivery Location

Truck Lane Opportunities

Read on to see how these shipping factors influence pallet freight costs.

Pallet Location

The shipping origin of your pallets is very important. The further away your pallets are located, the more you pay!

Pro Tip: We offer a location filter on our plastic pallets and containers that shows you where the pallets come from, allowing you to choose pallets close to your location – to reduce your shipping charges and save money!

Filter by the closest location to lower your pallet shipping charges.

Pallet Specifications

The smaller and lighter the pallet, the less shipping you pay. Furthermore, nestable pallets ship more compactly, allowing the shipper to pack more units into a stack.

Shipping Service Level

In a hurry? It’ll cost you. Faster shipping services for your plastic pallets are more expensive.

Pro Tip: Monitor your inventory and place pallet orders before you run out. You’ll save at least 50% on shipping charges if you can afford to wait the standard 3-5 business day transit time (instead of using rush services).

Shipping Lanes

When a pallet shipment approaches 8-10 stacks (see our product pages for the numbers of pallets per stack), that can cover as much one third of a truck’s cargo space (a 40′ truck has about 30 40″ x 48″ skid spots). This situation may cause you to pay for the entire truck! Boo!

But why?

This happens because the trucker may not have any other deliveries to make on that particular shipping lane – causing cargo space to go unfilled!

What does unfilled space equal? Inefficiency and higher costs. Money!

A genius move, used by our pallet experts, is to try dividing the shipment into 2 trucks, allowing the excess space in the 2 trucks to be filled with payload for other deliveries in that truck lane, reducing the overall freight costs by as much as 50% in some cases.

Pallet Shipping Charge Calculator

The One Way Solutions website is unique, unlike any other in the plastic pallet market.

One Way Solutions offers Pallet Shipping Charge rating and quoting, both in our online Shopping Cart and during online Checkout.

Our advanced pallet shipping calculator calls out to hundreds of shipping partners, in realtime, to find you the most competitive shipping rate!

This unique service makes the decision process, that was once far more complicated, as easy as pie.

We know you’ll love it – please let us know what you think!

Use Your Own Shipper!

Our website allows you to remove shipping charges from your pallet order and indicate your own shipper.

Pro Tip: If you have an account with a shipping company, you may get a discount that will reduce your shipping charges.

What is RFID Pallet Tracking?

There’s been quite a buzz building about pallet tracking – and RFID pallet tracking is one of the techniques used to track a pallet’s location.

Read on to learn more!

How Does RFID Tracking Work?

Radio-frequency identification utilizes electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects.The tags contain electronically stored information. This technology allows users (customers and vendors) to sort, track, identify any object they choose to tag. It is a very common practice in warehouses for distribution and tracking.

RFID System Overview

RFID systems consist of three components:

RFID tag or smart label

RFID reader

Antenna

RFID Tag Reader

RFID Tags

RFID tags contain an integrated circuit and an antenna, which are used to transmit data to the RFID reader (also called an interrogator).

Active RFID Tags

Passive RFID Tags

Passive tags are powered by the RFID Tag Reader. A magnetic field forms around the coiled antenna inside the passive tag in the presence of radio waves transmitted by the reader. The passive tag draws power from the magnetic field, energizing the tag circuits and completing the data transmission back to the tag reader.

Passive RFID Tag

RFID & ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Compatibility

ERP software can use RFID tracking to locate products and resources along their journey through supply chain, including both inbound and outbound delivery processes.

Why is this important? The locational visibility helps establish supplier transparency and accountability; furthermore, this also allows customers to track their items during shipment to drive greater customer satisfaction.

When a plastic pallet bearing an RFID tag reaches a particular location, the pallet can be processed using an automated receipt and validation of the advanced ship notice (ASN). This receipt can also mark and notify mistakes in the vendor fulfillment process, eliminating added labor and receiving resources that would normally be expended to correct the mistake.

With outbound deliveries, tagged pallets can be identified, notifying suppliers to contact their customers with the good news. After all, excellent communication is a superior service.

While the tagged item is stored at a plant, RFID tracking can be used to organize and pace maintenance processes, such as work orders. Work order phase and status data can be updated and saved on the tag to aid in throughput monitoring and production management.

RFID & Plastic Pallets

Does Tag Choice Matter?

Best practices reveal that robust RFID tags are the best fit for plastic pallets.

How Many RFID Tags Should I use?

Single tags are sufficient in systems that only use a handheld RFID reader. Plants using a gate system should consider using two tags to play it safe, in case one of the tags signals is blocked during transmission.

Plastic Pallet RFID Integration & Placement

RFID devices should be placed in a location that allows them to be read, but also in a secure spot that protects them from damage that would occur through handling.

Custom RFID – Do You Need It?

Custom RFID Advantages

Custom RFID printing always goes through a quoting and approval process, but a high level overview of our capabilities includes:

Encoding RFID tags with your data.

Printing/Encoding Barcodes to label your tags.

Printing Images on your tags.

Expedited Fulfillment is available.

What Do You Think?

Please leave your comments below and let us know how RFID pallet tracking has helped you rule your warehouse – or if you need assistance in taking the next step.

The NM7 is specifically designed to minimize pallet tare weight without sacrificing strength and durability. This beast of a pallet has a 2,700 lb dynamic capacity. This being said, the NM7 is a heavy weight type of pallet with light weight pricing.

Introducing #PP-O-40-NM7

The design of this pallet makes it a champion performer, minimizing expenses through two main design efficiency goals:

Structural Economy

Efficient Production

Structural Economy

The NM7’s design is a complete study in structural economy that optimizes the placement of plastic material, eliminating unnecessary plastic waste through superior design by channeling all plastic materials into the supportive structures of the plastic pallet.

Lean and mean, the NM7 achieves more capacity with less weight, achieving a higher capacity with minimal material cost.

Production Features

Efficient Production

Injection molding machines used to produce plastic pallets are huge machines that require consume massive amounts of power. Less material lowers the NM7s cycle time, driving down the price of the plastic pallet by maximizing the rate of production, lowering part cycle times, and reducing energy costs.

High Pressure Molding

This pallet is truly a work of art- high pressure molding gives it life.

Design Sophistication

The NM7’s high-pressure injection molds allow a complex geometry and with detailed features.

Precise Strength Regulation

Our specialized high-pressure molds allow targeted strength variation. The NM7 has targeted reinforcement in different areas with more or less plastic to help the overall strength of the pallet.

Automated Production Benefits

A majority of this process is run by machines which one individual can observe and control. This mechanical automation reduces manufacturing costs.

With these lowered costs, savings are passed down to the customer for a lower rate while offering superior quality.

Recycled Mold Scraps

Mold Scraps, produced during pallet manufacturing, are reused e reused for the next pallet molding. This process creates minimal waste without impacting the quality of this excellent product.

Maximized Pallet Uniformity & Accuracy

Some pallets have longer production cycle times in production. To boost output, pallet manufactures may try to remove a pallet from the press before it has sufficiently cooled. Removing hot plastic pallets from their mold prematurely causes shrinkage and warping.

When excess material is removed from a pallet design and minimized, faster cooling times result. Simple put, the less plastic used in pallet, the faster it cools!

Unlike other pallets that have longer cycles times, NM7 pallets cool quickly before being removed from the mold, resulting pallets that are:

True 40″ x 48″pallets

Remarkably flat

Made In The USA – Shipped From An Ideal Shipping Origin

The NM7 pallet is manufactured and shipped from Michigan. It’s centralized US location is an ideal distribution point to minimize shipping expenses to all areas of United States.

NM7 Pallet Design Benefits

Optimized Pallet Legs

If you take a look at the design you will notice a precise cutouts located in each of the nine pallet legs. These voids reduce pallet weight and cost to our customers. Costs are further reduced when shipping the pallets to our customers, allowing us deliver more pallet performance at lowering shipping rates!

Tapered Pallet Edges

The NM7’s tapered edges assist the fork-tine entry along with splitting a nesting rack, allowing pallet handlers to quickly easily move pallets to their designed location without sweating the details.

Reinforced Pallet Perimeter

The perimeter of the NM7 is reinforced with extra ribs to increasing impact-resistance for a safer, more durable product.

4 Way Entry

The NM7 design enables it to have a 4-way entry compatible with nearly all forklifts and hand trucks.

Open Deck Pallet Design

The NM7’s open deck allows for easy handling, easy cleaning, and further reduces material costs and unnecessary tare weight.

Superior Nesting Ratio

A superior nesting ratio allows for 2100 pallets to fit in a 53′ truck, significantly reducing the per pallet shipping costs.

Material Choice – Recycled High Density Polyethylene

The NM7 pallet is made from Recycled High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). This material has many vital features that makes the NM7 such an efficient pallet of choice. This material is lightweight, yet strong and resilient.

This strength is crucial to the lifespan of heavy shipping goods along with the pallet itself. HDPE has impact resistant properties that makes using this pallet the right choice if safety is in mind.

Some other key characteristics this material consists of is a long lasting product life, while being weather and mold resistant. HDPE frequently replaces heavier materials, partially in light of the fact that our society and many organizations are seeking after sustainable alternatives, for example, decreasing the amount of material utilized in shipping and products. This material being “lightweight while strong” can convert into less impact on the earth and cost.

The higher the density of the polyethylene material utilized the stronger, more rigid and more heat resistant the plastic is. The higher density models indicate better properties in strength, chemical and heat resistance, surface hardness and abrasion resistance.

Ventilated Deck * Chemical Resistant:

Traditional pallets may not be reasonable for specific material handling with operations involving the transportation or storage of specific types of chemicals. The NM7 pallet is a uniquely composed plastic makeup that is impervious to chemicals and toxic materials. Having a plastic ventilated pallet improves moisture resistance, safe handling, and airflow. Plastic does not absorb moisture so it will keep products safe and protected from intruding organisms. With the ventilation an individual is able to move and use this pallet with a high level of safety.

Meets GMA Industry Standards

Ideal Pallet Uses

Ideal uses for the NM7 include:

One way exports

Light-medium duty reusable applications

WIP

Inventory Storage

Point Of Purchase Display, and distribution applications.

How Do You Like It?

Please let us know what you think about our NM7 plastic pallet- we value your option and pallet expertise!

Please leave your comments below and contact us for assistance on finding the perfect plastic pallet for the right price.

Cracking The Plastic Pallet Part Number Code

PP-O-40-NL3

PP-O- The letter “O” means Open Deck. You may also “S” for Solid Deck (or closed deck). Plastic Pallets have two main deck types, so this part of the part number can help you zero in on your preferred pallet!

PP-O-40- This number indicates a pallet or bin’s dimensions, and starts with the width. In this case, the pallet is 40 inches wide. If the length isn’t listed it’s typically 48 inches.

PP-O-40-N This letter means the pallet is Nestable, one of our 3 main pallet types. “N” for Nestable, “S” for Stackable, “R” for Rackable.

PP-O-40-NL– This letter classifies the a pallet or bin’s weight capacity. “L” for Light Duty, “M” for Medium Duty, “H” for Heavy Duty.

PP-O-40-NL3– The trailing number differentiates similar products by creating a series. Pallets with a smaller series number were added to our product line earlier. Example: NL3 was launched before NL4!

Other Plastic Pallet Part Number Designations

Example: PP-O-40-R2.001.FDA/FR/FA-Blue

.001,.003,.005 These are found at the end of a pallet that has 1, 3, or 5 reinforcing rods.

FDA Typically at the end of a part number, indicates the plastic pallet is FDA approved. This means that the pallet is manufactured using virgin resin and is typically blue

Black,Blue,Red, Green, Etc. When our plastic pallets and bulk bins are available in more than one color, we put the color at the end of the part number.

FR All Fire Retardant pallets are designated with an “FR” in the product number.

FA Pallets molded with Freezer Additive are identified an “FA” in the product number.

All good on Plastic Pallet Part Numbers?

Clear as mud right? While detailed, there is a science to our part numbers- and they do describe and explain the products they represent.

Need Help Selecting A Pallet?

We don’t require anyone to learn our plastic pallet part numbers if they don’t want to – contact us so we can choose the perfect plastic pallet or container bin for your application.

The Impossible Answer

A Plastic Pallet’s Lifespan? It depends!

Pallet lifespan depends on the users application and handling practices:

It’s also important to make sure the pallet being used is appropriate for the application.

Often times, the cheapest pallet can become the most expensive, hiding the true expense of using a pallet that is not up to the task. After all, you must you consider product damage/loss due to overloading or improper use.

Reality Check

Neither answer is really helpful in the real world of material handling.

However, we do know that when the right pallet is selected for an application and it’s handled appropriately, it will outlast a wood pallet many times over.

At One Way Solutions, we’ve seen pallets in active use that were produced more than a decade ago.

The Bottom Line Pro Tip

Treat your plastic pallets well and they will return the favor- they’ll last longer and you’ll save money by drastically reducing the frequency of pallet replacement.

What do you think?

We value your option and pallet expertise!

How long have your pallets lasted?

What handling tricks have increased pallet lifespan?

Please leave your comments below and contact us for assistance on finding the perfect plastic pallet for the right price.

What’s our Cheapest Plastic Pallet?

To be honest, that’s a tough question. But I understand why you’re asking!

But first, a bit of pallet advice:

The cheapest plastic pallet isn’t necessarily the best plastic pallet for your application!

Considering that approximately 100 people per year die from forklift/pallet injuries, making sure that the pallet we sell is sufficient for it’s application is something we take seriously.

In the past 15 years, there have been dozens of customers that have not taken our pallet advice, only to regret it later. Fortunately, these cases resulted in an exchange for a more durable pallet and were not the result of an injury.

Just Answer The Question!

If we put aside the issue of application and look purely at price, we have several plastic pallets that match the ‘up front’ pricing of wood pallets. I say ‘up front’ because plastic pallets also have less tangible cost savings.

What are the hidden plastic pallet savings?

freight cost savings

lower frequency of replacement

potentially lower insurance premiums

less operations down time due to injury (due to nails and splinters commonly caused by wood pallets)

less product damage (again, no nails / splinters)

reduced risk of product and contamination (vital for food and pharmaceuticals)

Lower Freight Costs

Because plastic pallets often weigh less than wood pallets, it costs less money to ship them to your warehouse and to your customers.

Lower Frequency Of Replacement

Plastic pallet durability is excellent, often outlasting wood pallets. The longer plastic pallet lifespan means you will replace them less frequently- and buying less often saves you money!

OK! But what are your cheapest plastic pallets?

All of our pallets are priced competitively, but I’d like to mention one pallet that stands out in our pallet catalog.

Meet the NL7, our cheapest plastic pallet!

Our least expensive pallet is the # PP-O-40-N7 40×48 Nestable Open Deck Light Duty Plastic Pallet. We offer higher quantities of the NL7 for less $8 per unit, and it weighs less than 13 lbs.

One Way Solutions designed the NL7 plastic pallet to have the lowest possible weight with a high load capacity sufficient for many applications and widespread use. It’s weight to capacity ratio is among the highest in our product offering.

Right Pallet, Right Price, Right Time, Right Way!

At One Way Solutions, we strive to find cost savings at every opportunity so that we can pass these savings onto our customers. Combined with unparalleled service, we continue to build repeat business as loyal customers return for their plastic pallet needs.

Our very first customer in 2003 is still a current customer today.

We Can Help!

Please contact us for pricing or info on any of our plastic pallets, including our cheapest one.

You may have seen that some pallets have a solid deck as opposed to the open deck or open grid design. We wanted to review the benefits of the solid deck pallets and dispel a common myth.

Myth: Solid Deck Plastic Pallets are stronger than their open deck counterparts.

Fact: All else being equal, a solid deck and open deck pallet of the same design are equal in loading capacity. It is the vertical rib structure under the deck of the pallet that provides the strength. The solid deck skin equates to a horizontal rib and doesn’t provide much strength at all. This principle can be demonstrated using a square piece of cardboard. It’s relatively easy to bend the cardboard when held horizontally. Now take that same piece and place it on a table vertically and try to bend it. It’s much more difficult.

Here is an example from our plastic pallet offering, the PP-O-40-NL3 and PP-S-40-NL3 pallets. One pallet has an open deck design and weighs 22 lbs, the closed deck pallet weighs 23 lbs.

Calculating Loads for Safe Pallet Stacking

Question:

Q: Hi Robin. We place four 55 gallon drums of juice onto a pallet. Each drum is about 450 pounds. We want to stack these pallets of juice on top of each other in our freezer. How high can we stack these? Since it is sitting on a cement floor I assume this would be figured out as a static load. We have 40 by 48 wooden pallets. Since our finished pallets are not subjected to other forces (Dynamic, conveyors, racking) the static load can exceed the dynamic rating of the pallet. Is this an accurate statement?

My Initial Reaction

Whoa, 1,800 pounds of juice on each pallet is serious business. I can see why this is important; overloaded pallets are dangerous. Plus, upsetting 220 gallons of juice would result in a costly, time-consuming mess.

Answer:

This is not an accurate statement, necessarily. At some point, you will be moving the juice onto the pallet and stacking the pallets, exceeding the dynamic load during the process could be disastrous and should be avoided.

For safety’s safe, please make sure the following guidelines are followed:

As long as the total weight of the stacks doesn’t exceed the bottom pallet’s Static Load Capacity, you should be fine.

But once you have completed your stack, do not move any multiple pallet stacks unless the bottom pallet load is safely under the Dynamic Load capacity.

Thanks for the question and let us know if you need help finding the most competitive price for your plastic pallets and container bins. We’ll be happy to help you with any performance calculations you may have!

Pallet Stack Height Calculations

Our Customers Continue To Inspire Us

Just when we think that we’ve reached new heights of pallet wisdom, one of our prized customers steps in and pulls us back to earth.

Sure, we routinely optimize pallet shipments to find our pallet buyers the most competitive shipping rates- so why not share that wisdom on our blog?

Here’s a Note we received from our Customer

I am interested in your 24 x 32 Nestable Plastic Semi Pallet Item ; # PP-O-24-NL. I would like to stack several together to achieve a particular height. Your website indicates that one pallet is 5.1″ tall. Can you tell me the height of just the pallet’s deck so I can calculate how many pallets I would need to stack together to achieve a particular height?

Calculating Nestable Pallet Height

One of the most basic, yet elusive calculations we perform is the stack height of plastic pallets. We want to fit as many as possible into the truck that delivers your pallets, to reduce your freight cost per unit.

Here Is How To Calculate Pallet Stack Height

Nestable Pallets

Nesting Height Calculation Explained

To calculate the stack height of nestable pallets, you simply need to add the full height of one pallet, plus product of the additional number of units and the pallet’s nesting height.